Axial indicator



NVE/Won July 14, 1953 F. Pool., JR

AXIAL INDICATOR Filed Feb. 12, 1951 @YF/Mm( POOL, JR.

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Patented July 14, 1953 l AXIAL'INDICATOR v iara'nklnml, Jr., Palo Altdfcauf. v y

. .ApplicationFebruary 12, 1951, Serial No. 210,495

Y 'This invention -relatesu to I machine indicators and particularly to an indicator that has a cy; lindrical dial with referencev` marks circunfiscribu `ing it to make it possible vto take a reading with the indicator disposed at any anglehor during rotation. The indicator of the present invention nds many applications in use but is particularly adapted for use in rotation as where it will be mounted in the head stock of a lathe or in the chuck of a drill press or boring machine. In either case, it has a feeler or finger that may be adjusted to an angle with respect to its axis of rotation for contact with the Wall or" a cylinder or with a flat surface disposed normal t said axis. Angular movement vof vthe finger caused by dimensional'variations in a surface over which it passes are transmitted to a cylin-y drical part and cause axial movement of that part whereby its displacement can be viewed with reference to a suitable scale as it rotates.

It is the object of this invention to provide an indicator that is operable during its rotation to pass a sensing ringer over a flat or cylindrical surface and to indicate dimensional Avariations in the surface 'on' a dial that is substantially cylindrical and concentric with its own axis of rotation. Further and more specific objects and advantages of the invention are made apparent in the following specification where the invention is described. in detail by reference tjo Athe accompanying drawing. .n v f. s

.L Inthe drawing:

Fig.. 1,. is a central.A longitudinal section ofan .indicatonembodying the :present finvention; jo

Fig. 2 is a sectional View taken on the line II-II of Fig. l

Fig. `3 is a transverse section of the indicator taken on the line III-III of Fig. 1, and

Fig. 4 is a perspective View of the same indicator.

In general, the indicator of the present invention comprises a cylindrical casing with its cylindrical wall shown at IIl formed or glass 01 other transparent material. A shaft II projects from one end of the casing in axial alignment therewith to support it for rotation as inthe chuck of a lathe or boring machine. A sensing nger I2 is disposed at the opposite end of the cylinder on an adjustable mounting so that it may be arranged to contact either the inner or outer wall of a cylinder mounted co-axially with the cylindrical housing I0. The sensing finger I`2 may also be brought into contact with a fiat surface normal to the axis of the cylindrical housing I0 as would be the 'case where the indicator would be mounted in the chuckoi" a drill press yor boring -machine and apiece of nat workV was disposed on the work table ofv the machine. An indicating dial or card shownV at I3 is mounted for sliding movement within the cylinder Il) and any movement of thesensing iinger I2 caused by variations in the regularity of the surface over which it 'y passes yis r'translmitted throughV suitable multiplying linkage presently to ber described to thefindic'ating .dial in a vmannerrto cause it to move axially within the transparntcylinder. Thecylirder'l has suitably spaced `reference lines 'formed on `its outer cylindrical surface asbest illustrated in Fig. 4 ofthe drawings andr a reference line" I4 is rcarried on the dial. ThisV line may be marked on the cylinder l:Stn'dfktle spaced lines onthe dial if desiredr and itis preferred'that the single line be a dotted line to make it readily distinguishkable fromfthe other'. lines. The central one of the spaced reference ylinesfon therdialma'y be considered as representingk a zero position `and may be heavier or coloredtodistinguishit from ythe otherlines which'arespaced to vindicate any desired dimensions," such for `"eiiar'nple"'a'sfjten thousandths of an inch.

in the specific; .construction herein iiiiusf trated, the transparent cylinder AIIJ is provided f-'With a pair of ends' I6 andl'l held inplace there- /onas byk tension bolts IBandIS. `The boltvlii 'is'pro'vided with an enlarged flat portion 2llintermediate its ends as shown in Figs. 2Q and'3 which serves as a mounting for the multiplying linkage interposedbetween thessensing finger and the valve. The end IG'ofthe' cylinderisupports the shaft III and the end I'l hasa pair of diametrically spaced lugs 22 carrying adjustable bearings 23 between which a shaft 24 is mounted for oscillating movement. The sensing finger I2 is guided by the shaft 24 by adjustable means shown in Figs. 1 and 2. This adjustable means comprises a part 25 securely aiiixed to the shaft as by a clamping screw 26. An adjustable part 28 is mounted on the shaft 24 for oscillation relative to and is connected to the rpart 25 by a thumb screw 25 and a spring 30. Since the sensing linger is mounted on a hub 28, the tendency of the spring 3U to expand and move the sensing finger in one direction is limited by the adjusting screw which may be turned to move the finger in the opposite direction. The angle of the sensing nger is also adjustable as for'` example to the position indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 2 through a ball and'socket connection including the threaded friction nut 32 'designed 3 to hold it in any position of adjustment. This mounting also permits removal of the finger so that it may be replaced by one having a point capable of probing a center punch mark or by one that is curved where the shape of the work makes this desirable.

In setting up the indicator, it is contemplated that the sensing finger I2 will first be brought into contact with the surface of the work by adjusting the ball and socket joint and since the thumb screw 29 adjusts the relative position of the sensing nger and the dial I3, it may be employed to bring the dial to a zero position while the sensing nger is in contact with the work.

As the indicator is rotated and the sensing finger mitted to the dial through more ory less `conventional multiplying linkage including the following parts shown in the drawings. A lever 35 is fixed to the shaft 24 and projects through a l suitable opening in the end I1 of the casing. Swinging movement of this lever resulting from rocking of the shaft 24 is transmitted through a. pin 36 on its end to an L-shaped lever 31 pivotally mounted on a post 38 supported by the part 20 within the casing. The opposite end of the lever 31 has a pin and slot connection 39 with a bellorank lever 40 pivotally supported on a post 4I also carried by the part 20. A link 42 extends between the bellcrank 40 and a hublike part of the dial I3 to complete the connectionA between the sensing ringer and the dial.

The dial I3 is preferably of light weight construction and to enable its free sliding movement within the cylindrical casing it has a hub 44 with sliding bearings 45 in its ends mounted on a guide wire 46. The wire 46 is anchored at one end by a screw 41 and at the opposite end by a screw 48 so that it may be tensioned by adjustment of a nut 49. Radially arranged spokes 5|) shown in Fig. 3 as 3 in number emanate from the hub and support the cylindrical part of the dial I3 which is preferably just slightly smaller than the interior of the transparent cylinder I0. A

spring 5I encircles the post 4I and acts between r The indicator herein described has the advantage that it is readable in any axial position or even during rotation so that upon being supported in the rotary chuck of a machine by means of its shaft II, the sensing iinger may be moved over a circular surface or path and variations in its position caused by irregularities in the surface will be accurately indicated in an easily readable position by movement of the cylindrical dial with respect to the circular reference line I4. I claim:

1. An indicator of the character described comprising a hollow transparent cylindrical body member, a shaft projecting axially from one end of the body member by means of which it may be supported for rotation, an angularly movable sensing finger projecting from the opposite end of the body member to contact a work surface during such rotation, a guide wire disposed axially of the body member, means slidable axially within the body member on said wire, reference lines on said means and on the body member, and motion transmitting means connecting the finger and said slidable means to visibly indicate the magnitude of angular movement ofthe finger while the body member rotates.

2. A machine indicator comprising a transparent cylindrical body member, a cylindrical dial disposed within the body member, a guide disposed axially of the body member, axial bearings on the dial vslidable on the guide to support the dial for sliding movement free of contact with the body member, an angularly movable sensing nger projecting from one end of the body memberfor Contact with a work surface, means connecting the sensing nger with the dial to impart axial movement to thedial upon angular movement of the sensing finger, said connecting means comprising multiplying linkage disposed within the body member and reference lines on the dial and body member to indicate visibly the movement of the dial.

FRANK POOL, Jn.

References Cited in the rile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date '715,582 Jacobstetfal Dec. 9.11902 869,483 Dennis et al Oct. 29, 1907 1,269,728 Miller June v18, 1918 1,524,980 Krebs Feb. 3, 1925 1,860,993 Clarkson May .31, 1931 

